Academic Staff

March 4, 2026, 10:57 a.m.
Mahde Saleh Abdulrahman Assafi (PhD)
Professor
Professor in Biotechnology/Microbiology

Biology
College of Science
University of Duhok

2012, PhD. Degree in Microbiology, University of Nottingham, UK

2004, MSc. Degree in Biotechnology, University of Mosul, Iraq

2001, BSc, Degree in Biology, University of Mosul, Iraq

Advance microbiology (for PhD and MSc students),

Advance Bacteriology (for PhD students),

Biotechnology ((for PhD, MSc and BSc students),

Advance Molecular biology (MSc students),

Microbiology,

Environmental microbiology,

Bacteriology,

Academic debate

(1) Head of Biology Department, College of Science, University of Duhok. 2021-2024

(2) Director of examination committee of Biology department, college of science, university of Duhok. 2019.

(3) Director of health and safety office at college of science, university of Duhok. 2018.

(4) Member of the program Committee of the International Conference on Science and Technology ICST-18 at University of Duhok/Iraq. 2018.

(5) Member of the Technical program Committee of the international conference on Advanced science and Engineering 2018(lCOASE 2018) at University of Zakho/Iraq. 2018.

(6) Scientific committee member at Bio. Dept., University of Duhok. 2018-present.

(7) Member and lecturer at the University of Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq. 2017-present.

(8) Section editor of Science Journal of university of Zakho. 2017-present.

(9) Member of proposals evaluations committee at the Zakho University. 2016-2017.

(10) Member of the Higher Development Committee (HDC) at the Zakho University. 2014-2016.

(11) Member of the scientific degree award at the University of Zakho. 2013-2016.

(12) High development committee member at the University of Zakho, Kurdistan region, Iraq. 2014-2016.

(13) Accepted and completed the Fulbright scholarship program to

University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma / USA.

(14) (Representer) Selected as American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador to Iraq

30/7/2014-29/7 to 6/9/2014.

(15) Member of American Society of Microbiology (ASM) 2009-present.

(16) Member of journal publication committee of 1st international conference of Zakho university. 2013-present.

(17) (PhD student) Intensive researches at School of Molecular Medical Sciences at 2009-2012 Nottingham/UK as a part of PhD degree.

(18) Member and lecturer at the University of Zakho, 2008-2017.

(19) Head deputy (Reporter) of the head of biology department. 2005-2007.

(20) Member and lecturer at the University of Dohuk. 2004-2007

Research

1- Omar Hammad Jumaah, Raad H. Sultan, Mahde Saleh Assafi. Antimicrobial Activity of

Local Rhizobial Isolates Against Some fungi. Journal of Education and Science, 2022,

Volume 31, Issue 2, Pages 121-130.

2- Ali Yahya Saeed, Mahde Saleh Assafi, Hemin Esmael Othman, Hogir Mohammed Shukri.

Prevalence of SARS -CoV-2 IgG/IgM Antibodies Among Patients in Zakho City, Kurdistan,

Iraq. J Infect Dev Ctries (JIDC) 2022; 16(7):1126-1130.

3- Mahde S. Assafi, Fawwaz F. Ali, Reem Fouad Polis, Nisreen Jawad Sabaly, Sozan Muhsin

Qarani.(2022). Epidemiological and multidrug resistance study for E. coli isolated from

urinary tract infection (three years of study). Baghdad Science Journal. Vol 19, No.1.

4- Nawfal R Hussein, Dildar H Musa, Dawan J Hawezy, Ferhad MR Ahmed, Fatma K Khalid,

Ibrahim A Naqid, Mahde S Assafi. (2021). A study on the prevalence and the risk factors

of hepatitis B virus infection in Kurdistan Region, Iraq: A multicenter study. Journal of

Contemporary Medical Sciences. Vol.7, No.5

5- Roshna Mohamed Qadir, Mahde Saleh Assafi. (2021). Oral carriage of Staphylococcus

aureus in people with different body mass index. Journal of Oral Research. Vol 10, No.5

6- Sozan Muhsin Qarani, Firas Khalid Qasim, Mahde S Assafi. (2021) A Comparative Study of

Physiological and Physical Parameters between Married Females Residing at the

Qushtapa Refugee Camp and in the City of Erbil in Kurdistan-Iraq. SJUOZ. Vol.9, No.2,97-

101.

7- Roshna Mohamed Qadir, Mahde Saleh Assafi. (2021). The association between body

mass index and oral Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes profile in healthy people. Malaysia

Family Physician Vol 16, No. 3, (2021).

8- Hishiyar A Hado and Mahde S Assafi. Molecular Fingerprinting of Methicillin Resistant

Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Human and Poultry in Duhok, Iraq. (2020).

Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 35,1.

9- Reem F Polse, Sozan M Qarani, Mahde S Assafi, Nisreen J Sabaly, Fawaz F Ali. (2020).

Incidence and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Klebsiella pneumonia isolated from urinary tract

infection patients in Zakho emergency hospital / Iraq. Journal of Education and Science

Vol.29, No.3.

10- Fawwaz F. Ali, Muslim A. Allu, Mahde S. Assafi, Mohammad I. Al-Berfkani. The frequency

of the pathogenic bacteria isolated from different clinical samples in Duhok, Iraq. IMDC-

SDSP 2020, June 28-30, Cyberspace.(2020). DOI 10.4108/eai.28-6-2020.2298236.

11- Mahde S Assafi, Hishiyar A Hado, Ibtesam S Abdulrahman. Detection of methicillin-

resistant Staphylococcus aureus in broilers and broilers farm workers in Duhok, Iraq by

using conventional and PCR techniques. (2019). Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences,

Vol. 34, No. 1, (2020) (15-22).

12- Roshna M. Qadir, Mahde S Assafi. Frequency of Selenomonas noxia in oral microbiota of

obese and normal weight people in Duhok-Iraq. (2019). SJUOZ. Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 120–

124, December.2019.

13- Mahde S Assafi, Muslim A Allu, Ibtesam S Abdulrahman, Mohammad I Al-Berfkani. The

seroprevalence of human brucellosis in different age groups patients and other

associated risk factors in Duhok, Iraq. Innovaciencia. (2019). Vol 7 (2): 1-7.

14- Muslim A Allu, Mahde S Assafi, Reem F Polse, Mohammad I Al-Berfkani. Present status

of Salmonella Typhi in different age groups hospitalized patients in Duhok City, Iraq.

(2019) ZJPAS.31 (6):123-129.

15- Nawfal R Hussein, Zana SM Saleem, Nashwan MR Ibrahim, Mahde Saleh Assafi,

Shameran Daniel (2019). The Prevalence of HBV Infection in Renal Transplant Recipients

and the Impact of Infection on Graft Survival, Acta Medica Iranica, Vol. 57, No. 6. 381-

384. (2019).

16- Hussein NR, Balatay AA, Saleem ZS, Hassan SM, Assafi MS, Sheikhan RS, Amedi FR,

Hafzullahv SS, Hafzullah MS, Xedr AM, Zebary MT, Aqrawi HA. A clinical study of

cutaneous leishmaniasis in a new focus in the Kurdistan region, Iraq. (2019). PloS one.

14(5). e0217683.

17- Wahida A Ibrahim, Shameran Daniel, Nawfal R Hussein, Mahde Saleh Assafi and

Ramadan Othman. Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV Vaccine

Among Medical and Nursing Students of Duhok, Iraq. (2019). Women Health Bull. (2019

January; 6(1):e87203. doi: 10.5812/whb.87203.

18- Yousif A Abdulrhaman, Mohamad A Mohamad, Mahde S Assafi. 2019. Phage therapy

against biofilm of multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from Zakho hospital

samples. Polytechnic journal for pure and applied sciences. (2019). 9(1): 17-22.

19- Waleed Haji Saeed Akreyi, Samira Younis Yousif, Mahde Saleh Assafi (2018). Antibiotic

resistant and plasmid conjugative study of Salmonella Typhi. Jurnal Teknologi

Laboratorium.Vol 7, No 2, 2018: 38-45.

20- Nawfal R Hussein, Shameran Daniel, Khoshi Salim, Mahde S Assafi. (2018). Urinary tract

infections and antibiotics sensitivity patterns among women attending Azadi teaching

hospital, Duhok, Iraq. Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 5(2):27-

30.

21- Marwan K. Al. Zebary, Samira Y. Yousif, Mahde S. Assafi. (2017). The prevalence,

molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of S. aureus isolated from

impetigo cases in Duhok, Iraq. The Open Dermatology Journal. 11: 22-29.

Doi:10.2174/1874372201711010022

22- Nawfal R. Hussein, Mahde S. Assafi, Tayyaba Ijaz (2017). Methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonisation amongst healthcare workers in Kurdistan

Region, Iraq. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance. 9: 78–81.

23- Mahde S Assafi, Reem F Polse, Nawfal R Hussein, Ahmed H Haji, Araz R Issa (2017).The

prevalence of S. aureus nasal colonisation and its antibiotic sensitivity pattern amongst

primary school pupils. JUOZ. Vol.5 No 1, 2017.

24- Reem F Polse, Samira Y Yousif, Mahde S Assafi (2016). Prevalence and molecular

characterization of extended spectrum beta Lactamases-producing uropathogenic

Escherichia coli isolated in Zakho, Iraq. JMID. 6 (4): 163-167.

25- Mahde S. Assafi (2016). Comparison of S. aureus Proteomic Profiles from Biofilm and

Planktonic Growth Conditions using 2D- Gel Electrophoresis. JUOZ. Vol.4, No 1, 2016.

26- Nawfal R. Hussein, Amer A. Balatay, Mahde S. Assafi, Tamara Abdulezel Al-Mufty (2016).

High Risk Human papilloma Virus Genotypes in Kurdistan Region in Patients with Vaginal

Discharge. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2016;17(7):3191-3.

27- Polse, R. F., Yousif, S. Y. & Assafi, M. S. (2016) Prevalence and antimicrobial

susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic E. coli among people in Zakho, Iraq. Int J Res

Med Sci, Online First: 28 Mar, 2016. doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160813.

28- N.R. Hussein, Z.S.M. Saleem, A.A. Balatay, K.H. Abd, S. Daniel, A.A. Taha, N.M.R. Ibrahim,

M.S. Assafi. (2016). Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Renal Transplant

Recipient Attending Duhok Kidney Disease Center. Transplantation Proceedings, 48, 92

-95.

29- Mahde S.A. Assafi, Nashwan M.R. Ibrahim, Nawfal R. Hussein, Ali A Taha, Amer A.

Balatay (2015). Urinary Bacterial Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern among

Patients with Urinary Tract Infection in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Int. J. Pure

Appl. Sci. Technol., 30(2) (2015), pp. 54-63.

30-Mahde S. Assafi, Reem Qasim Mohammed, Nawfal R. Hussein. (2015). Nasal Carriage

Rates of Staphylococcus aureus and CA-Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

among University Students, Journal of Microbiology Research, Vol. 5 No. 4, 2015, pp.

123-127. doi: 10.5923/j.microbiology.20150504.01.

31- Nawfal R Hussein, Ahmed Alyas, Marwan Majeed and Mahde S Assafi (2015).

Prevalence Rate and Prevalent Genotypes of CA-MRSA in Kurdistan Region: First Report

from Iraq. Int. J. Pure Appl. Sci. Technol., 27(1).

32- Hussein NR, Tunjel I, Majed HS, Yousif ST, Aswad SI, Assafi MS (2015). Duodenal ulcer

Promoting gene 1 (dupA1) is associated with A2147G clarithromycin resistance

mutation but not IL-8 secretion from gastric mucosa in Iraqi patients, New Microbes and

New Infections, doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2015.02.005.

33- Hussein NR, Muhammed AH, Al-Dabbagh S, Abdulkareem, WL and Assafi MS (2014). The

Prevalence of USA300 CA-MRSA in Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq (2014).Int. J. Pure

Appl. Sci. Technol.,21(2), 8-10.

34- Habeeb A, Hussein NR, Assafi MS and Al-Dabbagh SA (2014). Methicillin resistant

Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among secondary school students at Duhok

City-Iraq.JMID 4 (2): 59-63.

35- Salih AM, Goreal A, Hussein NR, Abdullah SM, Hawrami K, Assafi M (2013). The

distribution of cagA and dupA genes in Helicobacter pylori strains in Kurdistan region,

northern Iraq. Ann Saudi Med. 33 (3):290-3.

36- Abdullah SM, Hussein NR, Salih AM, Merza MA, Goreal AA, Odeesh OY, Majed HS, Assafi

MA, Hawrami K (2012). Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains carrying babA2 and

cagA is associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease development in Iraq.

Arab J Gastroenterol.13(4):166-9.

37- Nawfal R. Hussein NR, Abdullah SM, Salih AM, and Assafi MS (2012) dupA1 Is

Associated with Duodenal Ulcer and High Interleukin-8 Secretion from the Gastric

Mucosa. Infect. Immun. 80 (8) 2971-2972.

38- Assafi MS (2012). Molecular Analysis of the Role of Haemophilus influenza Porin P2 in

Host-pathogen Interactions. PhD Thesis. University of Nottingham.

39- Abouseada NM, Assafi MS, Mahdavi J, Oldfield NJ, Wheldon LM, Wooldridge KG,

Ala'aldeen DA, Borrow R (2012) Mapping the Laminin Receptor Binding Domains of

Neisseria meningitidisPorA and Haemophilusinfluenzae OmpP2.UPLoS ONE 7 (9).

40- Al-Hamdany AJ, A.M. Mustapha AM, Abdul-Rahman MS Synthesis and Biological Study

of Some New Pyrrolidines (2007). J.Edu. Sci,19 (3).

41- Mahmood AK and Saleh M (2006). Gamma Ray Effect on Food Demand to Growth

Factors as S. typhimurium Isolated from Clinical Cases in Mosul City. Tikrit Journal of

Pure Science 11 (2): 78-84.

Microbiology

Infectious disease

Host pathogen interaction

Biotechnology

Molecular bacteriology

Drug resistance

1- PhD student: 2021-present, University of Duhok, College of Science.

2- MSc student: 2021-present, University of Duhok, College of Science.

3-MSc student: 2020-2022, Mosul university, Isolation and Characterization of Rhizobial

Isolates in Iraq with A First Record of Symbiosis

4-MSc student: 2019-2021, Near East University/Turkey, Incidence of Urinary Tract

Infections, Etiological Agents, and Antibiotic Susceptibility among Pregnant and Non-

Pregnant Women in Amedi-Region-Iraq

5-MSc student: 2018, University of Duhok, College of Science, Molecular characterization of

the oral bacteria in the people with obesity in Duhok, Iraq. .University of Duhok, Science.

6-MSc student: 2017, Zakho university, Detection and molecular characterization of

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from poultry and farm workers in

Duhok, Kurdistan. 2015-. University of Zakho, Faculty of Science.